Propeller-shaft



(No Model.) v I T. FEITH.

PROPBLLER SHAFT. No. 306,472. Patented Oct. 14, 1884.

, 44 --Hmll UI N I "Mmmml III Mum |f'l @IMEI illl WITNESSBS: 4' A/ATTORE BYS Unirse Si'ra'frns .artnr trice@ THEODORE FEITH, OF CANARSIE,NEW YORK.

PROPELLER-I-SHAFT.

SJPEQJFICATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,472, dated Qctober14, 1884i,

Application [iled March 13, 1884. (No inodel.)

lo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l", Ti-rnononn Fnrrn, of Canarsie, Kings county, Stateof N ew York, have invented certain new and useful I1nprovements inPropeller-Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an improved torsional couplingforpropeller-shafts of stean1- ships, by which the injurious strainsexerted by the propeller upon the engine when the foi-nier is raisedabove the water or submerged are avoided, and thereby the danger ofbreaking the propeller-shaft diminished and a more regular running ofthe engine obtained.

The invention consists of a coupling for propellershafts, composed of aseries of longitudinal rods that are arranged in concentric circlesaround the shaft, said rods being splined at one end into a fixed disksecured to one shaft-section and loosely guided at their opposite endsin sockets attached to a iixed disk ofthe other shaft-section. Thelongitudinal rods are guided at intermediate points by loose perforateddisks. The torsional rods diminish in thickness from the inner towardthe outer circle of rods, and serve to neutralize the torsional strainsof the screw on the shaft and engine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of myimproved coupling for propeller-shafts. Fig. 2 is a side view of thesha-ft with the torsion-rods removed; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinalsection of the coupling, and Figs. L and 5 are vertical transversesections on lines x x andy y, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A represent the sections of a propellershaft for steamships.

D is a socket-disk that is rigidly keyed to the shaftsection A, andprovided with a series of socket-holes that are arranged in concentriccircles around the shaft-section A.

To the shaft-section. A is applied a similar socket-disk, C, theconcentric socketholes of which are respectively arranged in step-shaped offsets of increasing length, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thesocket-disks B and C are constructed of two disks-a plain disk and adisk with soeket-holes--said disks being rigidly bolted to each other.rlhe socketdisks B and G are connected by a series of torsional-rods,

D, which are arranged in circles around the shaft-sections, saidtorsional rods diminishing gradually from the inner circle toward therods D are splined into the secketvholes ofthe disks B and C, so as tobe rigidly secured thereto and prevented from turning axially in theirsockets, as shown in Fig. 5. The sockets of the disk C are made of suchlength that the rods D have suliicient play to slide longitudinallytherein. The torsional rods D are supported at intermediate pointsbetween the disks D and C by perforated disks D, the same being placedloosely on the shaft-section A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, so that theycan follow the torsional sluitingI motion of the reds D, caused by thepropeller. Then the propeller is in motion, it exerts a torsional strainupon the system of rods D, whereby the ends of the saine that aresplined to the socket-A holes ofthe disk C are moved longitudinally intheir sockets in proportion to the degree oi' torsion and the distanceof the rods from the center of the shaft. As soon as a part or the wholeof the propeller rises above the water the torsional strain of the rodsD acts upon the shaft-section A, and returns the same and the propellerinto normal position. At the moment when the screw is Vresubnieiged thetorsional strain upon the system of rods D is reestablished by theresistance of the water to the propeller, and thus by the alternatingstrain on the torsional rods and the relaxation of the same thepropeller shaft protected against the torsional strain and vibrations bywhich the breaking of the shaft may occur. The engine is thereby kept atregular speed, as it is not ail'ected by the variable degrees ofresistance exerted on the screw.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. The combination, with the sections of apropeller-shaft having socket-disks keyed thereto, of torsional rodswhich are splined at both ends to said soeketdisks, but adapted to slidein longitudinal direction in the sockets of one disk, substantially asset forth.

\` 2. The combination of the shaftsections of a propeller-shaft, eachhaving a xed soeketdisk, with a system of torsional rods splined to saiddisks, said rods being arranged in. con

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centric circles around the shaft and diminishing in thickness from theinner to the outer circle, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the sections A A of a propeller-shaft, havingfixed socket-disks O and B, torsional rods D, splined at both ends tosaid socket-disks, and intermediate perforated guide-disks, D, appliedloosely to the shaft-sections, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the sections A A of a propeller-shaft,socket-disks C and B, the socket-disk C having longer sockets, torsionalrods D, splined to said socket-disks, and arranged in concentricalcircles around the shaftsections, said rods diminishing in thickness 15invention I have signed my 'name in presence 2o of two subscribingwitnesses.

y THEODORE FEITH.

lVitnesses:

PAUL Gonrnr, STDNEY MANN.

